Tigers midseason report card includes Blue Cross

I t is undoubtedly difficult to give the Rockdale football team any kind of a mid-season grade, considering the Tigers medical status.

The Tigers are coming off a shutout loss to previous whipping boys Smithville while a dozen injured players wandered the sidelines, including record-setting quarterback Ethan Brinkley.

All involved are certainly disappointed in the 2-3 mark they are saddled with, but the good news is that the Tigers can still win district or move into the playoff bracket.

The Tigers have one more game to get healthy before they travel to long-lost friend Taylor to kickoff District 18-3A action on Oct. 12.

The Tigers face the top two teams in the district (so far) on back-to-back weeks: Madisonville on Oct. 19 and No. 1 ranked Navasota on Oct. 26 on the road.

Unfortunately, Rockdale doesn’t get to enjoy its open date until Nov. 2, the secondto last week of the season immediately following Navasota.

After an impressive season opener in which the Tigers gained 355 yards by way of the ground, they have struggled to establish any kind of ground attack since and a lot of that is due to the revolving door that has been the offensive line.

Also, come Friday, starting tailback Dailynn Ramey will have missed his third straight game with a shoulder injury.

When Rockdale lines up against Hillsboro Friday night, only one lineman—senior left tackle Pedro Ibares—was in the starting lineup on opening night five weeks ago.

With all the new faces on the varsity, even the Tiger coaches might want to take a gander at a game program.

Junior Pete Heintze, originally a tight end, will start his second straight game at center.

Starting right tackle Jarad Gerren was on the junior varsity two weeks ago.

The defensive line is not in much better shape. The three players that will front the 3-4 defense this week are all new.

Heintze—who has gone from being a backup to a two-way starter—will join Elijah Brooks and Patric Trejo as starters.

Trejo, who starts at tight end in the three-reciever set, is also the backup at left and right tackle on offense.

Brooks, who normally starts at linebacker, may be the only running back/nose guard combination in the state.

Rockdale has four players going both ways and five sophomores in the lineup.

None of the above even considers the players who are playing hurt, like two-way starter Clayton Gibbs, whose elbow on his throwing arm is swelled up like a grapefruit.

Getting the unflappable Brinkley back Friday will be a shot in the arm and take the pressure off the newcomers to the starting lineup.

“We’re hurt and we need to heal up,” Miller said, “but we’re not going to give up. These kids will play hard. Our goal is still to win every game.”

The 5ive

While the Tony Romo debate rages on and with a little help from Complex Sports, here are the five worst quarterbacks in NFL history: